Hawaii Vacation Destination
Kauai
The lush green tropical beauty that is Kauai is what most imagine Hawaii to be. Nicknamed the Garden Isle, Kauai is resplendent with verdant mountain scenery, cascading waterfalls and spectacular tropical rainforests. Almost circular, the island is the fourth largest in the state of Hawaii and encompasses approximately 550 square miles, with about 100 miles of coastline.
Considered to be just over 5 million years old, Kauai is the oldest island of the Hawaii chain and was the first of the islands discovered by Captain James Cook in 1778. Currently, Kauai is the least populated of Hawaii's four counties, with an estimate of about 58,000 residents, and almost half of the island is given over to protected conservation areas.
Kauai, with its reputation as home to the wettest spot on earth (Mount Waialeale gets an astonishing average of 480 inches of rain per year), also features one of the world's great geological wonders: Waimea Canyon. The 10 mile long, more than 3,000 feet deep canyon formed by natural erosion and dubbed by Mark Twain as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
A very compact place for travel, Kauai offers a bit of everything for the vacationer in concentrated locations. The city of Lihue, situated on the southeastern coast, is the county seat of Kauai and is where the airport is located. Sunny and idyllic, Poipu in south Kauai is considered by many to be the almost perfect resort destination.
With its inexhaustable panoramas and picturesque beauty, Kauai is for the adventurous and romantic alike.
Kauai's Main Attractions
- Waimea Canyon
- Na Pali Coast
- Hanalei Bay
- Wailua Falls
- Poipu Beach Park
- Kalalau Valley
- Kilauea Point Lighthouse
- Fern Grotto
- Menehune Fishpond
- More Kauai Attractions
Island Facts
- Official Island Flower: Mokihana
- Official Island Color: Purple
- Highest Point: Kawaikini - 5,240 feet
- Average Temperatures Range: 70° to 80° Fahrenheit